Last Report: 10/01/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 304,809
Return Rate: 26.8%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 162,303 53.2 548,288 29.6
Republicans 51,037 16.7 208,889 24.4
Minor 891 0.3 5,297 16.8
No Party Affiliation 90,578 29.7 373,765 24.2
TOTAL 304,809 100.0 1,136,239 26.8
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 232,429 76.3
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 72,380 23.7
TOTAL 304,809 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 220,399 72.3 759,252 29.0
Non-Hispanic Black 48,624 16.0 201,261 24.2
Hispanic 5,282 1.7 27,327 19.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 5,518 1.8 28,230 19.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,002 0.3 4,762 21.0
Other/Multiple/Unknown 23,983 7.9 115,407 20.8
TOTAL 304,809 100.0 1,136,239 26.8

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 13,564 4.4 94,944 14.3
26 to 40 33,732 11.1 198,138 17.0
41 to 65 101,342 33.2 418,208 24.2
66 and up 147,907 48.5 424,949 34.8
TOTAL 304,809 100.0 1,136,239 26.8

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 161,735 53.1 615,963 26.3
Male 128,231 42.1 444,480 28.8
Unknown 14,843 4.9 75,796 19.6
TOTAL 304,809 100.0 1,136,239 26.8

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 6,052
Rejection Rate: 1.9%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,775 62.4 166,078 2.3
Republicans 966 16.0 52,003 1.9
Minor 17 0.3 908 1.9
No Party Affiliation 1,294 21.4 91,872 1.4
TOTAL 6,052 100.0 310,861 1.9
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,750 45.4 223,149 1.2
Non-Hispanic Black 2,438 40.3 51,062 4.8
Hispanic 181 3.0 5,463 3.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 140 2.3 5,658 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 33 0.5 1,035 3.2
Other/Multiple/Unknown 510 8.4 24,493 2.1
TOTAL 6,052 100.0 310,861 1.9
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,136,239
Request Rate: 15.9%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 339,399 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 548,288 48.3
Republicans 208,889 18.4
Minor 5,297 0.5
No Party Affiliation 373,765 32.9
TOTAL 1,136,239 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 759,252 66.8
Non-Hispanic Black 201,261 17.7
Hispanic 27,327 2.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 28,230 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,762 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 115,407 10.2
TOTAL 1,136,239 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 94,944 8.4
26 to 40 198,138 17.4
41 to 65 418,208 36.8
66 and up 424,949 37.4
TOTAL 1,136,239 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 615,963 54.2
Male 444,480 39.1
Unknown 75,796 6.7
TOTAL 1,136,239 100.0